3 bedroom villa overlooking Lake Arenal and Arenal Volcano The space This recently constructed (2012) spacious 3 bedroom/4 bathroom home is located on 2 private acres adjacent to Arenal Volcano State Park. Each bedroom has its own terrace overlooking the old Ceiba Tree and views of Arenal Volcano and Lake. The open layout allows cool mountain breezes to flow through the home. Enjoy leisure activity in our bar/game room and cool off in our swimming pool or relax in the hot tub with direct views of the active face of the volcano. Ideal for groups/families (sleeps 6-10 people). Enjoy meals cooked by our personal chef (available on request) or prepare your own culinary creation in our fully equipped gourmet kitchen. Daily cleaning service provided. Laundry service available on request. Located within minutes of El Castillo, Sky Trek Zip-Line Canopy Tours, Kayaking and ATV rentals. Horseback tours to the waterfalls or fishing tours on the lake or Rio Frio can be arranged. Massage therapy is available at the Blue Lagoon Spa just 500 meters up the hill. Hot Springs and La Fortuna are just 30 minutes away. An escape from the daily stress of work for a week in paradise will rejuvenate your soul and reconnect you with what life is meant to be. The property is adjacent to a virgin cloud forest. Explore miles of hiking trails through the rain forest that lead down to the nearby Rio Piedras Negras. Howler monkeys, toucans, wild turkeys, parrots, coati mundis (aka pizotes), tayras and more can be regularly spotted from the house and in the vicinity. WiFi broadband internet access is included. Tune in internet radio from anywhere in the world or watch DVDs and Netflix on a 42" HDTV. Guest access Guests have access to entire house except for the utility room.

## The Space

This spacious three-bedroom, four-bathroom villa was built in 2012 and sits on two private acres next to Arenal Volcano State Park. Each bedroom features its own terrace with views of the old Ceiba tree, Arenal Volcano, and Lake Arenal. The open floor plan allows refreshing mountain breezes to circulate throughout the home.

Guests can enjoy leisure time in the bar and game room, cool off in the swimming pool, or unwind in the hot tub while taking in direct views of the active volcano.

The villa comfortably accommodates groups or families, sleeping between six and ten people. Meals can be prepared by a personal chef available upon request, or you can cook your own dishes in the fully equipped gourmet kitchen. Daily housekeeping is included, and laundry service can be arranged.

## Location

The property is located just minutes from El Castillo and offers easy access to Sky Trek Zip-Line Canopy Tours, kayaking, and ATV rentals. Horseback riding tours to nearby waterfalls and fishing excursions on Lake Arenal or the Rio Frio can be organized.

The Blue Lagoon Spa, offering massage therapy, is only 500 meters uphill. Hot springs and the town of La Fortuna are approximately 30 minutes away.

## Surroundings and Wildlife

Situated adjacent to a pristine cloud forest, the villa provides access to miles of hiking trails through the rainforest leading down to the Rio Piedras Negras. Wildlife such as howler monkeys, toucans, wild turkeys, parrots, coati mundis (also known as pizotes), and tayras are commonly seen from the house and nearby areas.

## Amenities

- WiFi broadband internet access  
- 42-inch HDTV with DVD player and Netflix  
- Bar and game room  
- Swimming pool  
- Hot tub with volcano views  
- Fully equipped gourmet kitchen  
- Daily cleaning service  
- Laundry service available on request  

## Guest Access

Guests have full access to the entire house except for the utility room.

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Maximum Occupancy

3BR villa

Casa Ceiba overlooks the Arenal Volcano - Houses for Rent in El Castillo, Alajuela, Costa Rica

We had a great stay. This is a good location - you get used to the drive to La Fortuna and really appreciate how peaceful it is. There are still restaurants near by. Great view! Hosts are very attentive and helpful. We went during rainy season and still appreciated the pool and hot tub!

Our family enjoyed our stay at Jim’s home. It was just as described in the listing. Beautiful surroundings that are even more wonderful in person than in pictures. It is isolated from the touristy traffic yet any attraction we did was within 30 minutes. Would definitely stay here again!

This is a really beautiful place, and the location was perfect, secluded enough for a relaxing getaway yet close to nearby tours and parks. The only downside is the hot tub. It isn’t a true hot tub, as the water circulates with the pool, which prevents it from getting fully hot. It does warm up after a few hours, but not to the temperature of a traditional hot tub. Aside from that, the house and the surrounding landscape are gorgeous, plus Jim was very insightful about the area.

Very secluded and peaceful. Dirt road to access house is a little rough, but worth it for the incredible views. Definitely book if you’re looking for secluded and quiet with amazing views.

Beautiful location. Very well stocked home from towels to cooking supplies. Exceptional caretaker! Stephanie was certainly so kind and helpful! Highly recommend this home!

I would highly recommend staying at Casa Ceiba-Jim went above and beyond in helping me plan our trip as we had never been to Costa Rica before.  The house was amazing with plenty of space to spread out, comfy beds, a great kitchen that was well stocked, a wonderful pool and hot tub and we enjoyed waking up to the birds each morning-we even saw Toucans out in the back trees one morning!  Very convenient to stay when you are doing activities in La Fortuna and want to get back to nature.  Local places to eat were plentiful and delicious.

Beautiful home in a decided, beautiful spot. Others have put it well. Jim is a good host who is available for questions and offers a lot of local options for tours, food, etc.  highly recommend!

Casa Ceiba in La Fortuna was a delight! Jim sent very detailed directions to ensure you find the house (make sure you watch the video!) and the views and house were incredible. Jim was very responsive and helpful for everything we needed. Highly recommend this property!

House was spacious and clean. The views of the lake and volcano are spectacular. We spotted toucans and heard howler monkeys every morning. Jim gave us great local recommendations and was very responsive. Beware the housekeeper lives on the same property and the washer and dryer are locked, you have to ask her to do your laundry every time you need, which was a slight inconvenience for us with 3 kids.

The property was gorgeous with an amazing view of the volcano and lake. The house was big and spacious that easily accommodated our family of 7. Stephenie who is the care taker of the property is very friendly and always willing to assists us with whatever we needed. Jim was responsive and provided us with a list of great options of restaurants and activities near by. The few cons that we experienced were the broken grill...we didn't know about it until we got there. We couldn't use the washer and dryer because the previous guests broke it, so Stephenie had to do our laundry for a small fee (which we didn't mind). The AC unit in the máster bedroom was not cold at all and the shower pressure was low. But despite these minor issues, we had a really nice time.

This was place incredible! Our host was extremely responsive, and the views from this home( on the side of a mountain), overlooking lake Arenal are impossible to put into words. The pool and hot tub were cleaned every day by the hosts home manager, and she also helped us with laundry. There are amazing places to eat on the hill as well. I can’t say enough, I’ll miss it all! Thanks again, we will be back!

From the moment I booked this home Jim was very communicative and helpful. He sent me videos and photos to help with getting there as well as instructions about the pool and hot tub. He also recommended a reputable rental car service and sent links for all of the restaurants, grocery stores and tours in the area. The house is absolutely beautiful and the views are stunning. So much care has gone into the landscaping and beautiful flowers that attract lots of butterflies! The balconies off of every room in the house were amazing. Stephanie, the property manager was so sweet and kind. She invited us up to her balcony for more views of the volcano and captured some wonderful photos for us. 10 out of 10!!!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Jim’s. Prior to arrival his communication was stellar in helping us understand how to get there. Make sure he was ready. Response time was almost immediate. As you can see from the other reviews the road up to his place is steep like a lot of the areas of Costa Rica but our SUV had no problem with it. His landscaping around the pool of flowered bushes provided a morning outdoor aviary of butterflies, and hummingbirds. The house was very clean and had everything we needed to be comfortable. The pool and hot tub were clean, easy to use and really enjoyable. We would definitely come back and stay here again.

Jim was a great host from start to finish. He was responsive and helpful with everything we needed. The house was cozy and had such an AMAZING view. The beautiful sounds of wildlife were nice to wake up to. The location is a little bit of a drive to certain activities, but not too far. We had a car so it was easy to get to everything we needed. There are 2 small markets and a restaurant at the end of the main road up to the house. I would definitely recommend this location and would stay here again. To top it off, my boyfriend, of 7 years, asked me to marry him at the little restaurant down the hill. So we have another wonderful reason to return. 💕 Until next time…. PURA VIDA

The view from the accommodation was spectacular, really one of the highlights of the place. The host was very friendly and always responded quickly. In addition, his recommendations for places to visit were excellent. Definitely an experience I would repeat!

La vista desde el alojamiento era espectacular, realmente uno de los puntos más altos del lugar. El host fue muy amable y siempre respondió con rapidez. Además, sus recomendaciones de lugares para visitar fueron excelentes. ¡Definitivamente una experiencia que repetiría!

Jim was great in walking us through our very first time entering the country and being in that local area of the house. Very responsive and flexible with us too. The house was absolutely beautiful with gorgeous views. Would love to go back to his place again!

Amazing place. Great communication. The place is beautiful, overlooking lake and we had a clear day for volcano. Pool and hot tub awesome, morning and night. 25/30 mins from Fortuna and activities. Well worth it to be in such a beautiful place 2 restaurant and a small store very close. otherwise a bit of a drive to some excellent food. Just stay here if in fortuna area, it's awesome.

Absolutely a great place to stay when visiting La Fortuna. The house was as described and Jim was great at giving helpful directions for navigating the road and the drive. If you get carsick, be aware, the road here is fairly windy… Although you will find that for any place you stay around this area. The house was clean, and the property was immaculate. Our kids loved the pool, and the opportunity to swim in the hot tub as well. We saw toucans off the deck each day and fireflies at night, which was a highlight for my children. Overall Jim was great at offering suggestions for places to go and places to eat, and when we had a problem with a leaky faucet in the house, it was fixed very fast.

Beautiful views, just like in the photos. One always worries about security, but this house had a housekeeper living with a large dog in the same gated compound (we never really saw or heard her or the dog much, but knew she was there), so it gave us piece of mind. One small thing: the ad says in-unit laundry, but in the check-in instructions this is revised to "you can make an arrangement with the housekeeper to have it done." There is also no cooling in the main part of the house, just in the bedrooms, so in the afternoon on a hot day it can get quite warm if the breezes are not cooperating. Not a huge issue for us, butt might need for some. Overall though, it was a great stay and we'd happily stay they're again.

Beautiful home, lovely location with beautiful views. The roads to get there are a bit bumpy, ideally you need a 4x4. The cleanliness of the house is good. Jim is very proactive and suggested several restaurants and activities to do in the area.

Superbe maison, bel emplacement avec vue sur magnifique. Les routes pour se rendre sont un peu cahoteuses ça prend un 4x4 idéalement. La propreté  de la maison est bien. Jim est très proactifs et nous a suggéré plusieurs restaurants et activités à faire dans le coin.

Jim’s place truly is a paradise. The layout of the house is amazing with each bedroom having a terrace that looks over the lake. We saw toucans, parrots, and many other kinds of birds right from our doorstep. The sunsets are spectacular.

Casa Ceiba was everything we could have dreamed of and more for our first stay in Costa Rica! Jim was incredibly responsive, helpful, kind, and welcoming. He made incredible recommendations and we felt right at home in this beautiful oasis!

Our stay in El Castillo was absolutely perfect! The home was exactly as described—private, peaceful, and offering breathtaking views that made every moment special. Stephanie, the housekeeper, was so friendly and helpful, ensuring we had everything we needed throughout our stay. We were especially glad we chose El Castillo over La Fortuna, as it provided a more serene and immersive experience while still being a great base for exploring the area. If you're looking for a quiet retreat with stunning scenery, this is the perfect place. Would definitely stay here again!

Jim is a good host. His house was exactly what we needed to check out the area. We will be back!

We had a wonderful time at Jim’s house. He communicated with us very well and gave us a bunch of recommendations of things to do around the area. The kids loved having the hot tub and pool! There were two power outages (on the way there and funny enough, the morning of checkout). Jim was in touch with us the whole time and called the electric company on our behalf. We thought we were going to miss our outgoing flight but since Jim was up early he was able to let us know they were working on the power and a fallen tree that was blocking our path. We made our flight home and made some great memories in El Castillo! The views from the house are amazing! The area in general has been getting more rain, something to keep in mind but overall enjoyed our stay! Stephanie the house caretaker was lovely as well!

Jim's place had a spectacular view,  cool vibe, nice evening breezes and we felt it helped give our family a unique Costa Rica experience far enough away from constant tourist crowds but close enough to get to the hot spots of our choosing. Expect to deal with bugs and bumpy roads as part of the adventure.  (We made it without 4x4 but a couple spots were a bit dicey and some screen and sliding door repair could go a long way.) Jim and his housekeeper were both very responsive and helpful and we were very happy with Jim's local restaurant recommendations and the pool and jacuzzi in the evenings.. (LOVED La Ventanita Cafe!) We would highly recommend a stay at Jim's place!

Beautiful  and spacious house grounds and view.  Excellent communication from owner.  Perfect base to explore the Arenal area with family.

Jim’s house has a stunning location on Lake Arenal and is a must-stay! The house is beautifully designed, with a lovely nature theme. The views from the pool and hot tub are stunning!

We had a fantastic time, everything was luxurious, thanks to Jim for the attention given during the stay. Beautiful house! Highly recommended!

La pasamos fantástico, todo estuvo de lujo, gracias a Jim por la atención brindada durante la estadía. Hermosa casa! Muy recomendado!

We had a fantastic time while visiting Arenal.  Jim was so kind and very helpful. The location is gorgeous and I would recommend it to people that are on the adventurous side.

The view is worth every penny!  Although the drive up the house is traditional Costa Rica, you'll be so glad once you're there!  Beautiful house, Great Location to La Fortuna and Amazing Views.  Will stay again when back in CR!  Pura Vida!

We loved our stay. The views were amazing! Pictures don’t do it justice. The flowers on the property were beautiful. Lots of neat birds and butterflies. We could’ve just spent the whole time at the property instead of going anywhere (especially on our favorite swing). The kids loved the pool. We spent a lot of time there. It’s private and secluded. Felt very safe the whole time. You’re a little ways from La Fortuna and a lot of touristy attractions but there’s still a lot to do very close to the area. We did the Butterfly Conservatory in El Castillo just 10 min away, Sky Adventure 12 min away, and Mistico Hanging Bridges under a half hour away. Make sure you have 4 wheel drive for the road up the hill. Would stay here again!

Would be a fantastic place for 3 couples to stay.  The big suite has the best bathroom and shower and the other 2 rooms have access to the second bathroom and the third is off the kitchen. So convenient and great when someone wanted to take a nap in the AC. Love the pool!!!

This house was beautiful. Between the well kept grounds and the amazing view, we definitely picked the right house. Very clean with working AC. Bathrooms had hot water with a great water pressure. House was pretty and had nice furniture with a great deck over-looking the lake. Definitely one of our favorite houses we have stayed at. Location was good and we had lots to do around the area. The hill driving up to the house was a little steep but nothing we couldn’t manage. Overall amazing house.

The house was clean ,well stocked and in a great location with a wonderful view

Jim was very helpful throughout with detailed video direction, recommendations of nearby restaurants etc.  We enjoyed the pool, scenery and bird watching from the balconies.  Jim was super helpful in locating an item we left in the house and mailing it to us in US.  Thank you Jim for your help and we enjoyed your house.  It was perfect for our 6 person group.

The house is very private, comfortable, spacious and has the most incredible view! the pool and hot tub were amazing - watching fireflies from the hot tub at night is something we'll remember! the restaurant just a few minutes away is really nice. Jim was a great host, always responsive and provided valuable information and recommendations. we highly recommend staying here, we would love to come back on our next visit!

This home was a perfect place for our visit to the La Fortuna area. We absolutely loved the view and woke up early every morning just to enjoy the balconies. It is a short drive to La Fortuna but also very close to several local restaurants. Our family of four absolutely loved our stay here!

This place has amazing views and a los of space. a real gem!

What a great place to stay and experience the natural beauty of El Castillo. There was so much space on the property that it felt more open and private than we expected. Jim provided so many local resource options and detailed directions and videos on how to get there. I would definitely stay here again.

Overall, the place was great! Wonderful location, excellent communication from the host! Couple of great food places near by. Jim also helped me find someone to jump start our car, when it wouldn't start on our last day. Overall, I would stay here again. Only negative was, I do wish the house was a little better sealed up. Don't get me wrong, I realize I'm in Costa Rica and not the US, but with the proximity to the rain forest, I wish the main door to the back yard didn't have a big gap at the top and bottom. Looks like it was probably straight at one time, but due to settling or time, there was a big crack that a large... and I do mean large, spider crawled right in. Almost got carried away to its spider lair when I stepped into the house. Other than that, the rest was great.

Jim's place was even better than I hoped. The views are unbeatable and the property is secluded on a beautiful mountainside. The drive to the house was intimidating at first, but we got used to it feeling totally safe after a practice run, and it is so worth the view. We rented a Chevy trailblazer and explored La Fortuna, Arenal volcano, went ziplining, went to hot springs, and more. Jim was there on our arrival, gave us great local recommendations, and even coordinated home chef services for our final night. The property was a great fit for my family of 6. We love Casa Ceiba and want to return in the future!

Would stay again if I come back to Costa Rica. Bird watching was spectacular. Pool and hot tub were in great working condition and clean. Very private very peaceful.

Jim's house is a peaceful retreat. Great views and wonderful accommodations. Beds were comfortable and AC worked fine. We didn't realize one of the baths is a jack and jill bathroom between two bedrooms however that wasn't an issue for our group. The kitchen works great, and has a good selection of cooking implements. We didn't get a chance to try out the pool or hot tub but they seem great. A minor nit is the water pressure is a little low, so we had to make sure only one person was showering at a time but that is about the worst thing I can think of with the house. If we are ever back in the area I'd certainly stay here again, and would likely stay for longer to enjoy a bit more.

Wow! This place is amazing…just outside La Fortuna but easily accessible for tours and trips. Jim is a great host and full of local information . Local restaurant just up the road. Would revisit. Karen

Very nice location, splendid view of lake and volcano, perfect house with a family with 3 kids and 2 grandparents. Very close to the sky trek (Zipline) and a bit remote from the very full of tourists la fortuna area. The spa was awesome after day of hiking. The access road is better with a 4x4 but we have seen many local old cars non 4wd. Jim was super reactive and proficient with all info needed. I warmly recommend

Jim's place is in an excellent location within a fairly decent driving distance of La Fortuna. He is very quick to respond to issues. Would definitely recommend.

We had an excellent time at Jim’s place! I’ll recommend this place to big groups and families, it has an amazing location and really close to La Fortuna!

Wonderful place, amazing views. Place has everything we need and Jim is great. Very responsive and we enjoyed the little touches he made to provide a wonderful experience. There’s a little market within driving distance and adventure places close by.  We loved the pool, ping pong table, porch swing and hammock the most with this property. The ACs, located in the bedrooms, provide perfect cool temperatures for a good night’s sleep. The mattress and couch are a bit firm but overall we would stay again. This is a top notch home and Jim did an excellent job.

Our group of seven was very comfortable in this spacious home. The views from the house are AMAZING! It’s so peaceful and secluded, we were sorry we couldn’t stay longer and would definitely return. Jim was very responsive to our random questions. There is no shortage of activities and things to do & explore.

We loved the place.  It is the best place we stayed in in Costa Rica.  We wish we stayed there longer. Great host.  Highly recommended.

The location and view of this place is perfect! Each room has its own balcony you can step out onto and enjoy the beautiful view! Jim was really great with communicating! Highly recommend !

The house is extraordinary, has a lovely view and is quite cozy, very safe!  Ideal for a relaxed, quiet time; definitely recommended!

La casa es extraordinaria, posee una vista encantadora y es bastante acogedora, muy segura!  Ideal para pasar un tiempo relajado, tranquilo; recomendada sin duda!

This was a wonderful stay! The house is large and comfortable with a stunning view. There are great restaurants in El Castillo and fun attractions nearby. There was a storm that knocked out the power on our last morning - expect a little adventure!

great views. beautiful home. was a good location to access parks. had everything that we needed.

Great view and the host is very responsive.

House was fun, views were amazing, enjoyed being so secluded, but close enough to everything.

This view is outstanding.  The accommodations are amazing.   Be ready for a bumpy uphill roads to get there but definitely worth the drive.

Beautiful place with unbelievable views. Jim was very responsive and provided local suggestions.

The place was awesome and views were incredible. Only one hiccup the entire trip was the hot tub was not working but Jim had someone come and fix it ASAP. Worked great the rest of our trip. Really great communication, local tips, and a very very pleasant stay. Would recommend to anyone!!

Great place. Beautiful view. Amigos Restaurant at bottom of hill was so good! We would definitely stay here again.

Pros: The house and view are spectacular. The pool and jacuzzi were fantastic and always clean. The beds were comfortable and the entire stay was truly magical. Located about 25 min from La Fortuna but close to a lot of tourist stuff. Cons: The space could have been cleaner when we found it but Jim was very attentive and took care of everything for us. The WiFi was spotty at best, at times would not work at all. The road leading up to the house is made of stones and might be difficult for cars without good traction to get to.

Great place to stay, amazing view to Lake Arenal, the house was super clean and well organized. Jim was very understandable and helped us with all our requests, I would say that the response time could improve a little, but depending were you are, it is difficult to find internet connection. 100% recommended!

Our trip was very nice. The reviews stating you need four wheel drive are no lie. Jim was very responsive to any and all questions. You have to have Fabrico come and cook you breakfast, unfortunately we were unable to get dinner cooked but the breakfast was a must and very inexpensive.

Jim's house is huge and very clean and well-kept. The surroundings are beautiful, and the view is stunning! It was the perfect place from which to explore the Arenal area. Jim was a wonderful, responsive, and extremely helpful host.

We stayed at Casa Ceiba in the middle of our 3 week family vacation in Costa Rica. It was our first trip and we fell in love. The Arenal area is so packed with so many things to do and we only wished we would of had more time to spend at the house. We had Louis and his lovely wife cook us a fabulous dinner one evening and I reccomed doing this at least once. How perfect to come home after a long day of excursions to a home cooked meal! The way this home is laid out was perfect for us with our large family and small children. We all had our own space and there was even a pack and play for our 2 year old to use to sleep in. I really liked having the space downstairs to play ping pong by the pool. We hardly hot to use the beautiful pool because we were so busy! I wish we could babe just stayed at the house and enjoyed the pool and the views more.

Q3 enjoyed this spot tons. Great location. Comfy!

Casa Ceiba is an incredible airbnb! The hospitality that is offered is unbeatable. Local in house cooking is available which are Jim's friends from Costa Rica. His friend Juan took us on a tour and he is a funny man with some good tips. The house has so much charm and is definetly off the beaten path (may be a bit hard to find so GPS is definetly if not necessary as well as 4wheel drive). If you want a calm house with view of volcano, nature, lakes and horses, this it it! One night we heard howler monkies which was hilarious!

The views are absolutely breathtaking! The house is huge and very well kept. Located up a mountain, it was very quiet and peaceful. We loved seeing the cows roam around freely near by. We also had a delicious home cooked meal by the private chef. I highly recommend it if you have the time! There is also an amazing restaurant up the road with some of the best food we’ve tasted in Costa Rica.

JIM’S PLACE HAS AMAZING VIEWS OF LAKE ARENAL AND THE VOLCANO.  THIS IS A GREAT PLACE FOR SOMEONE LOOKING FOR A SECLUDED VACATION

The house is beautiful and in a wonderful location, amazing views. You do need to be comfortable driving on rocky roads to get there! Jim was a great host and gave us lots of tips for things to do in the area.

The house is beautiful and the surroundings even more! Emilce and family were very nice and prepared amazing local meals for us! House is comfortable and spacious. Internet and TV access were limited. Everything else was amazing!thank you!

Great place to stay for a week. We were four adults and four kids and felt the size of the house was perfect. There was ample towels and a well stocked kitchen. We had personal chefs come cook for us twice and it was amazing. Highly recommended house near La Fortuna. Very close to tons of awesome jungle activities.

Overall this place was great but it was a bit further from La Fortuna than I was led to believe.  Also, there are few things that could use some repair.  We were especially disappointed that the pool had been treated and did not seem clean/ready for use while we were there.  The view was incredible though!

The view is more incredible than can be explained. Lake Arenal and the Arenal Volcano can both be seen from the yard/house. There is lush greenery everywhere you look. Jim offered us a lot of insight before our trip, including a rental car place, stores and restaurants nearby, and things to do. He was very helpful. As others have said, the WiFi isn’t fantastic, but that’s just the area you’re in. You can still get iMessages out and whatnot. The road up to the house is crazy, but somewhat hilarious every time. It’s just so steep and curvy, but it’s fun to go up and down. Stores and restaurants (in the city of La Fortuna) are about 20 minutes away, so it was nice to have those places nearby. We hiked around the neighborhood/area and it was beautiful for miles. The house is well-kept, but you will see some bugs because you’re essentially in the middle of the rainforest. It fit 3 couples perfectly, but there are air mattresses if you need more space. The pool and hot tub were fantastic. There is a bathroom downstairs/outside, which is super convenient too. We had Emilce cook for us one evening, and that was fantastic. She and her husband speak almost no English, though, so be sure to have someone who does! The house manager, Allan, wasn’t around when we stayed, but I imagine he would’ve been very helpful. Fibricio came every other day to clean the pool and hot tub, and Emilce made sure to give us her number if we needed anything.

The house and location are excellent. The only improvement I would suggest is access to laundry facilities. Luis came and did laundry and was great but with 8 people cost more than I hoped. Overall an excellent experience.

Great house in a great location. Pool and hot tub overlooking the gorgeous lake were great. Some of the friendliest people on the planet. Roads are rough so 4WD is best.

Lovely, secluded location, nice views, and ample space for our party of 6. Emilce made 3 really terrific dinners for us, and we enjoyed the hot tub daily. While the driveway is notably steep and unpaved, this added to a lovely sense of being 'away from it all,' which we sought. We hiked nearby, visited La Fortuna and El Castillo, and saw toucans and other birds from the deck and monkeys just down the road. Definitely recommend this place!

Amazing views and scenery! The listing pictures do not even begin to describe the views and gardens of this home. You will need a car, ideally, to stay here. It's a little outside of La Fortuna, around 20 minute drive, although each drive merited seeing more wildlife that we wouldn't have seen staying in town. The home itself is pretty easy to find, follow the signs for Nepenthe, it will lead you right past the home. This would be an awesome place for a larger group. There was only 4 in our group so we had plenty of room. I took the horseback riding tour with Eduardo, the neighbor at Parrot Hill... great hiking and horseback riding experience!! Ask Allen or Jim for help setting up tours

Beautiful property, great views and well maintained. We had a great time in El Castillo relaxing and exploring the area. Allan who is managing the property was very helpful. We had a wonderful and probably the best meal in Costa, cooked at the house by a local couple who is also the property caretakers - what a nice people - it was great.

The description of the place does not do it justice. You can't describe how beautiful, remote, and peaceful this place is! Didn't want to leave! 

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Casa Ceiba. The house is incredible and is the perfect place to relax and enjoy your vacation in Costa Rica. The backyard has a very nice pool and hot tub area overlooking the Arenal volcano. There is a ping pong table and bar downstairs by the pool which we enjoyed at night. We saw toucans flying in the trees nearby which was pretty awesome. The only difficulty we had was the long, rocky road that you turn onto from the highway to get to El Castillo. It is a bit unnerving and full of potholes (which is not uncommon in Costa Rica). We got through it just fine in our SUV. There are a number of resorts with hot springs in Arenal between the house and La Fortuna. We highly recommend checking out The Springs resort - it is amazing!! We also recommend doing the whitewater rafting trip through Wave Expeditions. We hope to return to CR in the future and would love to stay at Casa Ceiba again. It is a slice of heaven!!

This house has a fantastic view of the lake and the rolling green hills.  There is no longer a view of the volcano due to trees and foliage growth on the property unless you walk down the hill a ways.  There is a lot more landscaping, vegetation, and foliage now than present back when the photos shown were taken.  The 3 bedrooms are nice.  The beds are a little firm but still fine.  The shower in the master bedroom has nice pressure and temperature.  The pool was also nice and very refreshing, though could use some fresh paint.  The hot tub is a bit shallow but was very nice to enjoy at night, as long as the heating process begins a couple of hours before getting in.  The road up the hill to the house is certainly bone jarring, but not a problem with 4 wheel drive.  Eating at the B&B Nepenthe up the road a ways was one of the highlights of our trip, as was getting massages there!  There are a few things I would recommend for betterment of a stay at this property.  Daily housekeeping was advertised as included in our stay, but during our one week stay, Emilce only came twice.  This was a problem for us as when we rent houses, we pack light and just wash our clothes frequently.  I contacted both the property manager and the owner about this and was explained that daily service is no longer included in the stay unless specifically requested and that due to previous renters mismanaging the laundry machines, access to them is only available with the housekeeper doing the laundry herself.  Once Emilce did arrive, she came with a portable hand crank washing machine and explained to me that the washing machine in the locked laundry room was broken and had been so for some time.  She explained that the reason tenants can not wash their own clothes at the house is because it has to be hand cranked and takes a long time.  We gave her our clothes, but this was a mistake.  Our underwear came out chewed up and torn.  The other problem with not having regular housekeeping service was the trash.  There is no instruction book for tenants at this property, so one has to rely on Alan, the current property manager for instructions on things like waste disposal. He is very kind and lovely to hang out with!  But I think he has a lot on his mind at times with his own properties.  Another peculiarlity about this house is that it has no hair blow dryers to be found.  There are many screens on the windows and doors that are ripped or coming off the frames.  Perhaps tenants do these things, but then aren't charged for damages to fix or replace things when they are broken or damaged, as is the case with the washing machine?  This is a lovely home that needs some maintenance and management.  :)

The place was absolutely Amazing and even better once arrive and in person.   If you want remote, secluded, private, beautiful, and comfort....this place is for you!   The property manager was amazing. He was available all the time for giving advice on places to eat, visit, and activities to do.   The cooks who you can pay to cook your meals if you wish were amazing also! The food her and her husband cooked were better than any of the food we had elsewhere. She was fully attentive to any allergies and cooked whatever we liked. The best part besides the taste honestly was the price. To have someone come in buy the food, cook it, clean up for the price we paid is unbelievable.   Overall really a must stay place if you are looking for a place in the area.

3BR Villa